Hong Kong welcomes mainland Lawyers Law amendments
Hkgov · 1 SOURCESabout 4 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
Hong Kong’s Department of Justice said it welcomes amendments passed by the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress to the Lawyers Law of the People’s Republic of China, with the changes taking effect on Tuesday.
The amended law expressly provides for the Greater Bay Area lawyers scheme, under which Hong Kong and Macao legal practitioners who pass the relevant examination and obtain a mainland practice qualification may handle specified areas of law in nine Guangdong municipalities.
Article 62 sets out that eligible practitioners can practise in Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Foshan, Huizhou, Dongguan, Zhongshan, Jiangmen and Zhaoqing.
Secretary for Justice Paul Lam said the amendments give the scheme a clear legal basis and support its regularisation after the earlier pilot arrangement.
Key Points
- The National People’s Congress Standing Committee passed the amendments yesterday, and the revised Lawyers Law will come into force on Tuesday.
- Article 62 covers Hong Kong and Macao legal practitioners who pass the Greater Bay Area Legal Professional Examination and secure mainland practice qualification.
- Eligible lawyers may practise in stipulated legal areas across nine Guangdong municipalities: Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Foshan, Huizhou, Dongguan, Zhongshan, Jiangmen and Zhaoqing.
- The State Council’s judicial administration department has also set out examination enrolment requirements, application procedures and the permitted scope of practice.
- Paul Lam said the Ministry of Justice and other authorities strongly supported the scheme, whose professional team has continued to grow since the pilot began.
Why It Matters
For Hong Kong’s legal sector, the amendments move the Greater Bay Area lawyers scheme from a pilot arrangement onto an express statutory footing, giving practitioners clearer certainty over cross-boundary practice.
The government also sees dual-qualified Greater Bay Area lawyers as helping connect legal mechanisms and regulatory frameworks within the region while supporting deeper integration into national development.